PUBLIC PARKS OP IOWA xi 



NEAR OAKLAND MILLS, HENRY COUNTY. 



Four miles southwest of Mt. Pleasant on Skunk river, accessible from 

 state roads, resorted to from remotest civilized and even during Indian 

 times, for fishing and sugar making; rare plants and forestry; good 

 boating and bathing; beautiful scenery; interesting history, 

 acres in extent, a part of the ground and four thousand dollars donated, 

 the state purchasing acres. Additional areas on margins of 



streams should be donated to the state, giving it complete, undisputed 

 control. 



ROOSEVELT PARK, FLOYD COUNTY. 



Three miles in a northerly direction from Greene and four miles in a 

 southeasterly direction from Marble Rock on the banks of the Shell Rock 

 river. C. M. Mather donates cost free to the people of the state, some 

 fifteen acres of ground together with an appropriate roadway thereto, 

 providing the state acquire some additional ground, denominate this 

 "Roosevelt Park," and furthermore, that in the use of this area certain 

 rules differential to Sundays be established and enforced. A fine growth 

 of woods and flowers; resort of every species of bird native and migratory 

 in that region; picturesque bluffs and ravines; a dam in the river at 

 Greene affords fine boating and fishing; for years much resorted to for 

 fishing and to some extent for camping. The State Board of Conservation 

 regards the donation of Mr. Mather as a distinctly public-spirited act and 

 beneficial to the people of the state beyond present valuation. It individ- 

 ually and positively expressed to Mr. Mather, and here records that ex- 

 pression, that the reasonable rules recognizing and differentiating Sunday 

 as the one day on which pastimes and performances of all sorts shall be 

 in harmony with the mental attitude of devout people is a wholesome and 

 welcome condition precedent to public acceptance of this gift. 



WILD CAT DEN, MUSCATINE COUNTY. 



Eight miles northeast of Muscatine near good roads. Misses Emma C. 

 and Clara L. Brandt, nature loving sisters, present, cost free, sixty 

 acres of the heart of one of the richest floral regions in the state. Pic- 

 turesque in every way and the resort for years of classes in botany and 

 forestry from the Chicago University and other institutions of learning; 

 fishing, boating and bathing available especially if the area embrace one 

 of the few" remaining water power mills on the smaller stream. The 

 state and local citizens engage to acquire the remainder of 300 acres 

 along Pine creek to its confluence with the Mississippi river. 



